The time I have lived in Tampere is
the longest I have ever stayed in one single city. And it is the most beautiful
part of my life. Tampere city has also witnessed the most important phases of
my life.
I was first studying in TAMK in the
Bachelor Program of Environmental Management. Students’ life was simple and
fun. The clearest memory from then is how to keep living budget to the minimum.
Back then, what I didn’t lack was time. I could walk 3 kilometers to Stockman
only for its cheap Chinese cabbage (kiinankaali), to Tammelantori for 1 euro
per kilo fish (särki, Finns don’t often eat it because of too much bones), and
finally to Valintatalo nearby our students’ apartments for the food on sale,
usually 50% off when it is closing to the best-before-date. Back then, I didn’t
feel that it was hard, but felt lucky and grateful that there were such cheaper
options available. With small income from cleaning, picking strawberries and
harvest garlic in the summer and low living cost, I survived and got Bachelor
degree.
For Master degree program study, I
started only after 6 years working. It is called Environmental Policy, the
program is in Finnish in the University of Tampere. Life is quite different from Bachelor study
time. All the lectures are in Finnish and all classmates are Finns. Subjects
are much more theoretical. When doing group work with classmates, I realized
that our thinking patterns are also so different. I am more practical and
concrete and my classmates who have studied only in university are more
theoretical and abstract. I found this difference interesting and exciting. It
motivated me to listen, to learn and to practice the other way of thinking,
writing and presenting. I was very happy every day because I learn something
new every day.
My first job was in TAMK right after
my Bachelor study. And now I got a job in UTA while I study Master degree. People
have been envious of me for getting job position easily as a foreigner or for
having a happy marriage with a Finnish husband. I can tell one asset in me that
make all these happen “easily”.
I accept differences and adapt
myself into them. Once realizing the environment, people, thinking, behaving
and values are different, instead of complaining, I try to understand and
behave accordingly, so called “Do in Rome as the Rome”. However, very often, I
hear people complaining living is expensive, Finns are quiet, winter is long,
cold and dark, job hunting is hard, salary is low and husband is inconsiderate.
Even all these are true, the more important thing is what we can do about it.
Do we keep complaining, or change our looking and thinking perspectives and
react to it positively? At your 20s, bravely and actively try all kinds of
possibilities and find your chance and position, even you fail and fall, you
can easily stand up and recover because you are young. Otherwise, you will end
up like many people complaining that life is not fair to them at their 40s.
Life is beautiful when you want it
to be. There is a proverb in Buddhism “when you have a Buddha in your heart,
you can see a Buddha”. The same can be applied in our life, when you believe
that life is beautiful, then it will be.
Text: Cuihong Jin-Muranen
Photo: Krista Salonen
About the author: Chinese lady, got bachelor in TAMK, worked 6 years in TAMK; pursuing Master in UTA, meanwhile working in UTA. Have a husband and 2 lovely daughters. Published 2 books about Chinese cooking, also teaches Chinese cooking in Sampola.
